NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pauses as he speaks during a news conference Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, in New York. Goodell says the NFL wants to implement new personal conduct policies by the Super Bowl. The league has faced increasing criticism that it has not acted quickly or emphatically enough concerning the domestic abuse cases. The commissioner reiterated that he botched the handling of the Ray Rice case. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) ORG XMIT: NYJC111 less

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pauses as he speaks during a news conference Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, in New York. Goodell says the NFL wants to implement new personal conduct policies by the Super Bowl. The ... more

Photo: Jason DeCrow

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Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is seen through a television camera's viewfinder as he addresses the controversy surrounding former running back Ray Rice at an NFL football news conference, Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, in Owings Mills, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) ORG XMIT: MDPS103 less

Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is seen through a television camera's viewfinder as he addresses the controversy surrounding former running back Ray Rice at an NFL football news conference, Monday, Sept. ... more

Photo: Patrick Semansky

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Ravens' owner criticizes report

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Owings Mills, Md.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti criticized a report that suggests he and other team officials tried to persuade the NFL to be lenient on Ray Rice after the running back was arrested for knocking out his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City elevator.

Bisciotti held a news conference Monday to respond to an ESPN report last week that he, president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome pushed commissioner Roger Goodell for leniency for their star player.

"Their accusations didn't jibe with what we know is fact," said Bisciotti, who said he expected Rice to be suspended 4-6 games.

The owner also said, "What's obvious is the majority of the sources work for Ray. ... They are building a case for reinstatement."

Rice was originally suspended two games, but after a video surfaced on Sept. 8 showing the violent attack, he was released by the team and suspended indefinitely by the league. He has appealed his suspension.

"As I stated in our letter to you on September 9, we did not do all we should have done, and no amount of explanation can remedy that. But there has been no misdirection or misinformation by the Ravens," Bisciotti said in a statement released before the news conference.

"We have stated what we knew and what we thought throughout — from the original report of the incident, to the release of the first videotape, to the release of the second videotape, which revealed a much harsher reality," Bisciotti added in the released statement. "As we said in our response to ESPN's questions on Friday, it was our understanding based on Ray's account that in the course of a physical altercation between the two of them he slapped Janay with an open hand, and that she hit her head against the elevator rail or wall as she fell to the ground."

Rice punched Janay Palmer in a casino elevator on Feb. 15. He was arrested on assault charges, and a police summons stated that Rice had struck Palmer with his hand, rendering her unconscious. Rice has been accepted into New Jersey's pretrial intervention program, which enabled him to avoid jail time and could result in having the charge expunged from his record after he meets the requirements.

Newsome reiterated in the team's statement Monday that Rice had been honest with him about what happened.

"When I met with Ray to discuss the incident, I asked him one question: "Did you hit her?" He responded: "Yes," Newsome said. "Ray and I didn't discuss details beyond that, because in my mind if he hit her, no matter the circumstances or explanation, he needed to own the situation. I immediately focused on Ray taking responsibility and making amends.